White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Just out of the WCN inbox, from Thomas Bates, executive assistant U.S. Attorney:

On Friday afternoon, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg, and Sue Rahr sent a letter to the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) objecting to the renewal of the liquor license at Papa’s Pub. The letter, which calls for the revocation of the liquor license, cites numerous incidents of dangerous and criminal activities in and around the establishment, including 43 calls for service to the King County Sherriff’s Office in the last five months and activities occurring within the bar that took place during the “Center of Attention” operation. There is an administrative process for renewals and revocations, so we will keep you informed as things develop.

Secondly, on a separate track, the WSLCB issued what is known as an Administrative Violation Notice (AVN) to Papa’s Pub for service of alcohol to a minor. This is the third AVN for service to a minor since April and could result in a 30 day suspension of the liquor license (regardless of what happens on the revocation track). Again, there is a process for this that is separate from the renewal/revocation process mentioned above. We will get you as much information as we can. This is the information I received from WSLCB:

The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) on October 25 issued Papa’s Pub, located at 9635 16th S.W. in Seattle, an Administrative Violation Notice (AVN) for Violations Involving Minors (Sale or Service of Alcohol to a Minor / Minor Frequenting). The AVN comes with a 30-day liquor license suspension scheduled from 10 a.m. November 28, 2011 to 10 a.m. December 28, 2011.

The AVN was issued after the business sold alcohol to an investigative aide working with officers during a joint compliance check by the WSLCB and the King County Sheriff’s Office on September 30, 2011.

When a business receives a violation, it has 20 days to accept the recommended penalty, request settlement conference with the WSLCB, or request an administrative hearing before an administrative law judge.

Violations Involving Minors
Papa’s Pub’s also has two pending violations involving minors.

The business received an AVN for Sale or Service to a Minor on April 29, 2011. The business requested an administrative hearing. The case is pending.

The business received an AVN for Sale or Service to a Minor on July 15, 2011. The business requested an administrative hearing. The case is pending.

Recommended penalties for Violations Involving Minors in a two-year period (per WAC 314-29-020)
1st violation: Five-day liquor license suspension or $500 fine
2nd violation: Seven-day liquor license suspension
3rd violation: 30-day liquor license suspension

The 30-day notice was mentioned in briefings at last week’s White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition, which WCN covered – here’s our story. And as previewed earlier, the conversation continues at the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting this Thursday night, with Bates among those scheduled to be on hand.

Seattle Weekly has been digging into some of the court documents on Operation Center of Attention arrestees. Just last night at the White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting, as reported here on WCN, authorities noted a bartender at Papa’s Pub was among those arrested. Today, the Weekly has details on that arrest, and more.

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

The monumental arrest/seizure sweeps of last week – and the well-attended meeting on Monday night – were the main topic at tonight’s White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition‘s monthly meeting.

The coalition’s dedicated core group of 10 or so was joined by a few guests. First to introduce herself was Jill Otake, an assistant U.S. Attorney. There was also a couple who identified themselves as White Center residents.

The discussion started low-key. Elizabeth Gordon of Uncle Mike’s Superlicious Barbecue had warm words for the new Storefront Deputy BJ Myers – saying he’s out on the street every day. (He had been invited to the meeting, organizers said, but was not there.)

Also well-received – the news from earlier this week that the dance-club moratorium was reaffirmed by the King County Council.

The business district’s current state, and future, was a hot topic. What about the marijuana businesses? one person asked. What if we had a nuisance ordinance like the one in Seattle? chair Sean Healy wondered.

They all agreed to lobby County Councilmember Joe McDermott for possible laws that could help crack down on some of what is going on. What could be done about the proliferation in marijuana businesses, though, wasn’t clear. Gordon said property owners seem to be getting calls from marijuana entrepreneurs as soon as storefronts open.

“Alcohol, weed, alcohol, weed,” Rev. Timothy Rambo sighed, assessing how the heart of the business district might look as a result.

After that discussion, Otake took the floor, for a followup discussion on “Operation Center of Attention.” She said, “I just want to thank you guys” for their passion and activism, rather than having any prepared remarks to offer. She invited questions. Her colleague Thomas Bates was on his way at the time she stood up. “We’re still working on Papa’s Pub,” for starters, she said. She added that the lead King County Sheriff’s Office detective in the operation will be meeting with the property owners at the heart of the sting to say “You are on notice, if you allow further criminal businesses to operate, your property will be seized.”

Right after that, the marijuana businesses came up again. A debate ensued on whether they were all bad – or whether some were more tolerable than others. Herban Legends, for example, won some praise for not allowing smoking on premises and making sure the location was ADA-accessible. Another opinion: The problem is the density of the locations – with three in the heart of downtown White Center on 16th, and a fourth not that far away in West Seattle (35th/Roxbury).

Then back to the stings, and questions:

Was the owner of Papa’s Pub arrested? No. A bartender was, Otake said.

What are the chance the people who were arrested “are going to make license plates for a while”? Otake said she couldn’t comment, because “you never know.”

And then she had a question:

“A week after the takedown, what are you folks seeing, that we might be able to do something about?”

One woman said she wasn’t seeing “as many regulars” going in and out of Papa’s Pub, not the kind of “open-air drug dealing” she had seen previously. They may have moved to other places, though, it was noted.

Specific anecdotal sighting ensued – known street dealers, for example – and Otake took notes. Discussion veered over to “where do they sleep?” and attendees discussed among themselves. That was when executive assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Bates arrived. He revealed that the Liquor Control Board announced today that it served a third administrative violation notice against Papa’s, for serving a minor. That would result in a one-month suspension of their license – after a 20-day period for an objection and hearing, Bates said. That was verified by Liquor Control Board rep Lt. Woodrow Perkins. “They can take it all the way up to an administrative law judge, and even the state Supreme Court,” he elaborated, adding that the establishment could stay open through a suspension – just, without selling alcohol.

If you think you see something wrong, be sure to call, it was reiterated. Whether it’s in a residential or business area, it was clarified. “I can’t tell you often enough how important that is,” Otake said.

With the LCB rep up front, he was asked about reports that the GAME Collective “marijuana lounge” was serving alcohol. He couldn’t comment.

Then came another question:

How big was this bust, really? Cheryl Bishop from ATF stood up. “This was unique, in that it lasted 90 days, and focused on a community. White Center doesn’t deserve (what was happening, involving) what I like to call ‘thugs and street slime’ …” She listed the agencies that “came together” to make it happen. “Problems like this cannot be addressed by a single entity – I think you have heard that multiple, multiple times, and that’s true … but the partner I didn’t list there is .. you guys, the community. We had people in the community willing to give us information. …”

She said a detective with whom she worked described this as “the one effort that has the biggest impact in a short period of time,” and that some other operations hadn’t been this successful in just 90 days. “The amount we got points to the obvious problem White Center was enduring,” she said, regarding the amount of guns and drugs seized. “We were all honored to participate in this operation … Our big hope is that we helped the community recognize a place where they can start to contribute themselves to addressing the problem … You see something, say something. Share that with your neighbors … that’s the only way you’re going to keep this down. We can’t arrest our way out of it. We just can’t.”

As a postscript, Bishop noted she’s a former White Center resident. She told the story of having her car broken into where she lives now – and then setting up a surveillance camera, because “they’re like cockroaches, they keep coming back,” and that indeed helped lead to an arrest of a suspect well-known to local police.

The coalition is working on a “long-range plan” about “how to improve White Center” and hopes to connect with other organizations in the area in the months ahead.

Bates said he hopes there will be some help organized regarding root causes – mental health, substance abuse – in terms of preventing future problems.

There were more words of thanks, and more generalized words about future plans. “Think big,” Otake advised.

“This neighborhood will not be a safe haven for criminals. It belongs to the families and people who live in White Center.” – U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan

Story and photos/video by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan conceived the “proactive” idea to identify “persistent crime problems in White Center and address them head on” soon after one of her Assistant Attorneys attended a White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting earlier this summer.

Up until a few years ago, the federal Weed and Seed program had funded the small public-safety group’s civilian leadership as well as local law enforcement emphasis patrols to keep in check major “hotspots” in the White Center area along 16th Ave SW. But when the grant term ended, so did the assistance of the Seattle Neighborhood Group leadership and consistent hotspot law enforcement, both operationally dependent upon the grant monies. The volunteer “coalition” slowly dwindled in numbers, and soon not even law-enforcement representatives appeared at their meetings.

But the group persisted, even as the King County Sheriff’s Office made further reductions last year in the remaining coverage and the number of on-duty deputies covering the unincorporated area became two, sometimes three officers, to cover the unincorporated area of roughly 17,000 residents.

When Durkan’s office got wind of the desperate appeals of that languishing citizen volunteer group, as well as the overwhelmed concerns of the North Highline Unincorporated Area in the growing unrest and crime of White Center and environs, the federal prosecutor took a closer look. The decisive result was the swift implementation of the three-month investigation of “Operation Center of Attention.” Over the course of 90 days, 26 defendants have been charged federally and another 27 face charges in King County Superior Court while three federal defendants are still at large; sixty-eight guns were confiscated; fifty-one pounds of methamphetamine, two pounds of crack cocaine and more than 10 pounds of powder cocaine, as well as oxycontin and heroin.

The multi-agency teams’ work relied on KCSO undercover officers praised by Durkan for their “amazing” work. Their work focused on activity in two primary White Center businesses considered to be meeting grounds for illegal drug and gun sales, frequently from individuals coming into White Center from other areas. Overall, four White Center businesses were targeted by law enforcement following up on evidence suggesting drug dealing and promotion of prostitution on the premises. According to Durkan, Thursday’s sweeps resulted in two employees charged with crimes at the businesses, though the business names would not be released by the prosecutors. However, WCN was on the scene during the multiple searches at two of the four businesses when Thursday’s arrests were made. Following is a shot of new Storefront Deputy ‘BJ” Myers on his third day of work in White Center with two of the detained individuals in the back of his squad car and a third being held (identifying features blurred)

Durkan said that the next step is those businesses’ landlords will be sent notices regarding the suspected criminal activity on their properties and inform them of possible forfeiture of their property should the crimes continue. Two of the businesses have appraised total values between $438,000 and $521,000. WCN found that one of the other businesses (which has had a closed sign on it since Thursday’s search) was previously and similarly shut down over three years ago. It is located immediately adjacent to the current Storefront Deputy’s Office.

While the spotlight of the search was on the downtown business district in Thursday’s action, the actual geographic focus of the investigations has been broader and included parts of West Seattle, the rest of unincorporated White Center, as well as the cities of Burien, and Seatac. Dubbed “Operation Center of Attention”, White Center was the logistical bullseye of the task force teams’ undercover investigations, spanning neighborhoods as far north as the High Point area of West Seattle and as far south as Seatac. The map indicates the boundaries of the larger area covered in the investigations with White Center as the nexus. The federal prosecutors office told WCN that they were unable to provide an explicit list of locations where the guns and drugs were confiscated as evidence.

The multi-agency teams were led by ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (and Explosives), a division of the United States Department of Justice. The Anti-Violence Gang Unit spearheaded the operation after the federal prosecutors approached them, working with many other agencies (King County Sheriff’s Office, Seattle Police Department, The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigation, the King County Metro Transit Police, Washington State Department of Corrections, Washington State Liquor Control Board and the Eastside Narcotics Task Force). Cooperative individuals were also involved with the undercover operations. An informant for the Liquor Control Board told WCN that they had been providing information to the LCB for months regarding numerous observations of illegal activity inside one of the businesses. This information and other community individuals’ provided information used in building the cases for investigation and was acknowledged by the task force as an element in the investigation’s success.

Dan Satterberg, the King County Prosecuting Attorney, said, “For a single operation to uncover this many offenders involved in the illegal sales of guns and drugs is truly remarkable.” Durkan told the assembled group, “We know that long-term solutions lie in the community, but we will continue to work with them.” The next step is the community meeting organized by the federal prosecutor’s office.

According to Major James Graddon of the King County Sheriff’s Office, the fact that the US Attorney’s Office is convening the upcoming community-wide meeting is unprecedented after a multi-agency task force sweep. The meeting will be held at the Wiley Center at Greenbridge Monday at 7 pm. Durkan and Graddon will be attending, as will elected and other law enforcement representatives. They realize this meeting is happening with very short notice but are hopeful community members will spread the word and attend if possible.

(Video by Deanie Schwarz for WCN)
From White Center Now contributor Deanie Schwarz at the briefing on yesterday’s big multi-agency law-enforcement operation in White Center – she was first on the scene as authorities were carrying out the raids yesterday:

50 arrested, 68 guns, 51 pounds of meth, two pounds of crack cocaine, more than 10 pounds of powder cocaine, and heroin were seized in a three-month White Center initiative.

(Photo by Courtney Blethen Riffkin, SEATTLE TIMES/Republished with permission)
Authorities at today’s briefing say two businesses described as “hubs for criminal activity” were searched yesterday. 26 people face federal charges in the “initiative,” another 27 face state charges, and three people facing federal charges are still being sought.

More to come.

12:40 PM: Following up on this, there’ll be a meeting Monday night at Greenbridge with participants including Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan, KCSO, SPD, and King County reps. Deanie reports that this is for those who want to help leaders and law enforcers work toward more solutions. This meeting is exceptional and unique in that “the US Attorney is organizing this community meeting after an ATF action,” said KCSO’s Major Graddon. “Normally task forces come in, do good work and then leave to other projects,” he said. Durkan’s office told WCN that the feds are not leaving WC – and hope residents and businesses attend. It’s at 7 pm Monday in the Wiley Center at Greenbridge.

WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz reports that Jali Studio in the 9600 block of 16th SW was held up this afternoon. The store owner says the robbers were two men who appeared to be in their 30s, one black, one Hispanic or darker-skinned Caucasian, both with hoodies obscuring their faces. They got away with money, an iPod, and a cell phone. If you have any information, contact King County Sheriff’s deputies, who are investigating, via 911.

9:11 AM: We’re at the King County Courthouse, where Anthony Haroldlee Smith, charged with second-degree murder in the August 16th shooting of 23-year-old Sweetheart Failautusi, has just appeared for arraignment. Two members of Sweetheart’s family were in the courthouse, but an advocate asked media reps – regional TV and radio were here too – not to photograph them. Smith has just pleaded not guilty, in a very brief hearing. The defense asked Judge Ronald Kessler to order the media not to photograph his face; the judge denied the motion, after a TV reporter (speaking for us all) pointed out that a surveillance video showing Smith (and two other, as yet not arrested, suspects) has already been widely shown.

ADDED 9:31 AM: Video of the entire hearing, picking up after the lawyers (without Smith present) made the photography-related motion, ending just before several names of witnesses were mentioned, in an order for Smith not to contact them.

By Tracy Record
Editor/co-publisher, White Center Now and West Seattle Blog

After two months of gathering petition signatures urging the King County Sheriff’s Office to restore a White Center-dedicated deputy, leaders of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council plan to present them to Sheriff Sue Rahr next week.

That’s what NHUAC members Pat Price and Christine Waldman told those in attendance Thursday night at the White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting, back at its longtime location at St. James (9421 18th SW) – one of several major topics at the meeting.

When we talked recently with this area’s King County Councilmember Joe McDermott about the push to restore the deputy position, he pointed out that the ultimate decisionmaker is the sheriff herself – while McDermott and his council colleagues, as well as King County Executive Dow Constantine, craft and finalize the budget, the direct staffing and spending decisions for KCSO are made by Sheriff Rahr.

So Waldman and NHUAC president Barbara Dobkin plan to meet with her next Thursday to present the petitions, as well as lobbying the council and executive “to make sure to give her the money so she can fill that position” to get a dedicated sheriff’s deputy back to “community policing” on local streets.

If you haven’t signed the petition yet, there are copies in several White Center businesses, Waldman says, and you can sign the version posted online – just go here. As Waldman put it, the deputy in this position – like Deputies Jeff Hancock and the late Steve Cox, before – would “know what’s what, who’s the good guys, who’s the bad guys” and be “extra eyes” on the street. “We really need that in White Center.”

Read the rest of this entry »

A lot to talk about as the White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meets tonight (6 pm, the former St. James Church at 9421 18th SW). It’s been nine days since the murder of 23-year-old Sweetheart Failautusi at 15th/Roxbury, with one of three suspects in custody and charged so far. In addition, permit applications have been filed for the reopening of the ex-Club Evo as Club Reventón. Previously announced for the agenda, a guest appearance by the new interim principal of Chief Sealth International High School in West Seattle, Chris Kinsey (our partner site West Seattle Blog was first to interview him after the appointment was announced earlier this month). All are welcome to coalition meetings.

At the county courthouse this afternoon, leaders from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and King County Sheriff’s Office were part of a briefing about what no one seems to dispute is a resurgence in gang violence, particularly in South King County – a bonafide “gang war,” it was called.

Most of the talk before the County Council’s Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee focused on the shooting of 12 people at a car show in Kent one month ago, but certainly the fact a known gang member is jailed in connection with the White Center shooting death of Sweetheart Failautusi a week ago is part of the picture too (though that case was not brought up at all during the briefing).

It was more than a “here’s where things stand” briefing – it was a plea for resources to get out on the prevention end of the problem, rather than just “chasing gunfire,” as one participant put it.

Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg led off the briefing, saying there is a “war among rival Latino gangs in South King County” that is “likely to turn violent” whenever rival gangs’ members encounter each other. He also emphasized, “We have a serious gang problem … We no longer have the luxury of denying that. … Once the bullets start flying, it’s time for suppression.”

KCSO Deputy Chief Steve Strachan said, “Intervention and prevention does matter” too – though “aggressive” crimefighting and prosecution are called for as well. He said partnerships are invaluable in fighting a problem like this.

KCSO’s Det. Joe Gagliardi said that what used to be a problem in north King County has migrated south, and again reiterated that “predominantly Hispanic” gangs, “five or six” of them, are the main problem, though he cautioned, “all races are involved.” Even those who are Hispanic, he took pains to note, are natural-born citizens: “These are our children.” (That was stressed again later in the briefing – that citizens are the bulk of the problem, not illegal immigrants. And the “children” aspect was noted by Satterberg, calling it “heartbreaking” that some gang members are children of “hardcore” gang members who haven’t ever known anything else.)

Det. Gagliardi said the fights against rival gang members are “dictated by their (gang) culture,” even if they happen in “very public venues” like the Kent car show. He says gang members are coming here from Eastern Washington and California as well, sometimes because “injunctions” are in place where they used to be headquartered. (Asked later to elaborate, he said that our state’s law currently wouldn’t allow those, but it could be changed. Satterberg said those civil injunctions allow a lot of work but once in place allows police “a tool to use” in fighting gang activity.)

Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas was part of the group briefing councilmembers (the committee membership includes White Center/West Seattle Councilmember Joe McDermott). He talked specifically about the car-show incident. He talked of working with other area agencies that collectively have 20 detectives working on the problem of gang violence. They’re not just tackling the violence, but also looking at gangs as a “complex criminal enterprise” in a conspiracy mode, he said. He also mentioned a retailation shooting following the car-show incident, which involved what he called “multiple shooters.”

Chief Thomas said that the car-show investigation has a prosecuting attorney specifically assigned to it, and he thinks that would be helpful in other investigations. Elaborating on that point, at the request of County Councilmember Bob Ferguson, Satterberg agreed that it’s vital to have prosecutors support complicated investigations “from the beginning” – but also noted that a grant the county was using has just run out. “We desperately need some help,” he said, also pointing out that budget cuts have cost his staff 36 deputy prosecutors in the past 4 years. Asked if the gang-violence situation is a “crisis,” he replied, “We have an all-out war.”

It’s not just violence – Satterberg said gang members “are at the root of a lot of our property crime right now,” as younger members who might not yet be involved in dealing drugs are still involved in burglaries and thefts, for example. How much younger? The average age of gang members is 12-35, said Det. Gagliardi, but there are much older members, too. Removing the leaders as well as the active gang members is vital to making a dent in the problem, he said, as is educating parents about how to recognize the signs that their children might be involved with gangs. (Councilmember Kathy Lamberg suggested that perhaps videos could be put on YouTube to assist with teaching parents what those signs look like.) Overall, regarding prevention/enforcement, “this is not an either/or,” said Chief Strachan. Added PA Satterberg, “It’s a battle for the hearts and minds of young people.”

And it’s a battle that’s really only just begun, Satterberg said: “We’re at the beginning.”

COUNCIL SIDE NOTES: Councilmember Julia Patterson said, “This issue is very personal to me – (the car show shooting) happened in a mall where I shop at … I could have been there.” (She’s not on the Law and Justice Committee, but joined the meeting especially because the shooting happened in her area.) Councilmember Reagan Dunn said he’s going on a Gang Unit ridealong tomorrow.

Gang rivalry is alleged to have sparked the fight that led to the deadly Tuesday shooting of 23-year-old Sweetheart Failautusi in White Center. That’s according to documents released by prosecutors after a bail hearing for the 25-year-old man arrested on Wednesday in Highland Park in connection with the murder. His bail was set at $1 million; the suspect waived his right to appear in person, so was not there. Next step in the case will be a King County Prosecuting Attorney decision on filing charges (Monday is the deadline), and of course two suspects remain at large – as the King County Sheriff’s Office noted in its official confirmation of the arrest. From the probable-cause documents, here’s what KCSO says happened after deputies heard gunshots and found the victim dead in the street:

… Detectives interviewed Sweetheart’s friends and learned that in the fight disturbance, Sweetheart and her friend had been in a physical altercation with a male who was later identified as [suspect] and his two friends. During this fight, a gun fell out of [suspect’s] waistband. The gun was recovered by one of [suspect’s] friends and the fight was over. [Suspect] had allegedly yelled “It’s not over, bitch, I’ll be right back” at Sweetheart. [Suspect] did return 36 minutes later with his two friends. [Suspect] then yelled ‘Bitch! F*** you!’ as he pulled out his handgun. [Suspect] reportedly did fire his gun three times and struck Sweetheart in the back of her head. …

As reported here and on partner site West Seattle Blog last night, a suspect is in jail in connection with the Tuesday morning shooting death of 23-year-old Sweetheart Failautusi. This morning, the King County Sheriff’s Office has officially announced it via this news release:

Yesterday afternoon at around 4:30 PM, a 25-year-old man was arrested for his role in the White Center homicide that occurred early Tuesday morning.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, along with members of the TAC-30 SWAT team and the Gang Unit all assisted in the peaceful apprehension of this suspect at his home, which was not far from the shooting scene. The identification of the suspect was made through deputies and detectives that work the White Center area, along with tips generated through the release of the surveillance footage.

“The citizens and business owners of White Center were upset to hear of this tragedy in their area,” according to Major James Graddon, Commander of the Sheriff’s Office West precinct. “They have been working hard with us for many years to improve public safety in their neighborhoods. This incident will ultimately be resolved through the continued support of the community and the efforts of the deputies and detectives.”

There are still two suspects outstanding in this incident. Any information that the public may have on any of the three suspects is still needed. Tips may be phoned in to (206) 296-3311 or 9-1-1.

The King County Sheriff’s Office looked up WC crime trends in response to questions raised by the overnight murder. This is the only homicide so far this year – and the May 2010 shooting nearby, mentioned here earlier, was the only one last year. But overall calls for assistance are way up – read on for the information from KCSO: Read the rest of this entry »

Photo and report from WCN/WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz:

The 23-year-old victim’s name was Sweetheart, according to her cousin, Faatamalii Savea, who mourned Sweetheart at the memorial set up at the sidewalk berm outside of Bartell Drugs at 15th/Roxbury.

She told me “Sweetie” lived in the West Seattle neighborhood of High Point. Sweetie’s mother died of alcoholism four years ago; her father died in a car accident last year in downtown Seattle. She is survived by one sibling, a brother and a large extended family.

She also said Sweetie had an alcohol problem, which the family tried to help her with as much as they were able and that aside from that, she was a good person who lost a lot in the past few years. Sweetie, according to her cousin, could usually be found hanging out at the transit centers in WC and Burien.

For the latest on the investigation, see our report from this morning.

(UPDATED 11:42 AM with official news release from KCSO; scroll down to read it)

ORIGINAL 2:14 AM REPORT: Two TV stations have tweeted that there’s been a deadly shooting near the Bartell Drugs store in White Center. Here’s a photo from our friends at KING 5, which shows numerous King County Sheriff’s Office units on the scene. We are on our way to find out more.

2:32 AM UPDATE: Added a photo from our crew on the scene. 15th is blocked off, right in front of the drug store – the victim’s body is in the middle of the street. Media crews, including ours, have been told that someone from King County Sheriff’s Office will be out to provide official information.

2:50 AM: Patrick Sand, at the scene for White Center Now/West Seattle Blog, says Roxbury traffic is not affected, but deputies are putting up even more “crime scene tape” around the Bartell store. 15th is blocked from Roxbury to the DSHS building.

3:05 AM: We and the other media crews at the scene have just been briefed. Information thus far: The victim is a 22-year-old woman, not identified publicly yet. The first call received by KCSO was about a fight; deputies responded, checked it out, talked with the people involved, who said everything was OK. But deputies stayed close by, then while walking about a block away, heard shots just after midnight – and found the body. They say they have not found a weapon so far and have not arrested anyone; they know some of the people involved in the original scuffling, so they’re scouring the streets for them. They also said the victim was “known to (KCSO)” but would not elaborate on how or why, except to say she and her friends often hung out in that area. We have the briefing on video and will add it here when our crew gets back. This, by the way, is not far from the scene of the deadly shooting in May 2010.

4:01 AM: We’re adding a few more photos from the scene; also, here’s the briefing by Deputy Travis DeFries. Our apology for the video quality – this is therefore more valuable for hearing what he has to say, than seeing it!

We’ll continue following this up and will add new information as it emerges through the morning.

11:41 AM: Here’s the official news release from Deputy DeFries. Note that the victim’s age has changed to 23; otherwise, the details are mostly the same. Deputy DeFries also notes he is gathering WC homicide/violence stats for release later.

A 23-year-old female is dead and detectives are working leads in a shooting incident that occurred overnight in the White Center area of King County.

This morning, at about 12:20 AM, deputies were called to the area of SW Roxbury St. and 15th Ave. SW by a passing witness for a fight disturbance. When deputies arrived they met with a small group of females, including the now deceased victim of the shooting. Deputies were told that the disturbance was minor and that the other group, which consisted of 3 black males, had left the area. The group of women declined to speak further about the incident.

Deputies stayed in the general area and began to walk on foot to increase their visibility and to try to prevent further violence from erupting. Just before 1:00 AM these deputies heard several gun shots coming from the area of the original disturbance. When the returned they found the victim laying in the middle of 15th Ave. SW with at least one gunshot wound. Witnesses said that at least 2 of the original 3 black males had returned and one then fired on the victim. The suspects then fled the scene on foot.

At this point, no suspects are in custody and no weapon has been recovered. Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit are investigating. We have not been able to rule out if this was gang-related or not. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Gang Unit will be assisting, as needed.

News release just in from the King County Sheriff’s Office:

Deputies found evidence of illegal dog fighting, including four pit bulls in unincorporated King County last weekend. One man was arrested in conjunction with the investigation.

The incident began on July 23rd about 3:00 AM. Deputies were called to a complex of duplex apartments in the 10600 block of Aqua Way South. Some of the units are empty and some occupied. A resident in one of the units heard footsteps in a unit that was supposed to be empty and called 9-1-1.

When deputies arrived they saw a man run from the supposedly empty apartment towards the rear of the complex. As deputies searched for the man, they went into a vacant apartment and found large quantities of both fresh and dried blood on the floor and walls. They also found two “bite sticks” typically used to pry open the mouths of fighting dogs to release the bite.

While searching for the man who ran, deputies came across two pit pulls secured to railings in a walkway. One appeared to be injured and was quite lethargic.

Deputies found an occupied apartment near the chained dogs and learned their suspect was in a back bedroom and possibly armed. When he refused to come out, the Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team was called. After more negotiation, the man surrendered.

Two additional pitbulls were found in the apartment. All four were turned over to King County Animal Control.

The 26 year-old suspect was booked into the King County Jail on a felony arrest warrant for Escape from Community Custody. He is a convicted felon, including convictions for promoting prostitution, robbery, and felon in possession of a handgun. At this time he is still in jail.

Detectives believe the apartment unit was used for illegal dog fighting, and based on evidence recovered, prostitution activity as well.

The investigation of this incident is continuing, and charges are likely.

The monthly meeting of the White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition is set for tonight, 6 pm, White Center DSHS building (upstairs) – your chance to hear about the latest trends, voice your current concerns, and join with other community members to make a difference.

12:35 PM: Thanks to Gill for the photos of law-enforcement officers at Asian Bubble Tea, 9835 16th SW. The officers in the photo are city of Seattle and state officers, but according to our friends at KING 5, this is all part of a string of raids around the region today, targeting alleged crimes including illegal cigarette sales. (UPDATE: Alleged food-stamp fraud is also being targeted here by federal investigators, according to KING’s update.) The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is leading the operation, which it describes as “a multiagency law enforcement operation conducted today involving the execution of multiple search warrants pertaining to the illegal trafficking of contraband cigarettes in Seattle and areas of Western Washington.”

ATF plans a media briefing shortly, and we expect to have more information after that.

ADDED 1:24 PM: Click ahead for the full text of the ATF news release: Read the rest of this entry »

Just in from Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff’s Office:

A Sheriff’s deputy suffered a severely broken wrist while chasing and trying to arrest a suspected drunk driver. The deputy went to the hospital and the driver escaped.

The incident occurred about 12:30 AM this morning (June 15th) in the White Center neighborhood of unincorporated King County.

The patrol deputy tried to stop a 1993 Cadillac DeVille for possible drunk driving. The car, with four people on-board, took off and refused to stop for lights and siren from the police car.

The chase lasted only a couple of minutes before the car suddenly pulled over and the driver took off running. However the deputy was hot-on-his-heels and managed to grab hold of his jacket. The man turned suddenly and the deputy went to the ground, fracturing his wrist. The suspect kept running. The other occupants of the vehicle were interviewed and released.

The deputy has been with the Sheriff’s Office for three years and is 52 years old. He was treated at Valley Medical Center and released.

The suspect is as a black male in his 30’s about 5’ 10” and 130 lbs. If anyone has information they are asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 or 9-1-1.

Our partners at the Seattle Times report that Vernon Walker, charged in the 2003 White Center murder of Darreion Roche (backstory here), is now in custody in Seattle, after years behind bars in Canada, fighting extradition. Walker was 18 years old when he allegedly shot and killed Roche following an argument that may have been related to drugs.